City Card shopping basket

Gemeente Waterleiding Terrein

The grounds of the GWL played a significant role in Amsterdams drinking water supply. From 1853 onwards, the Duinwater Maatschappij (water company) pumped water from the Kennemerduinen (dunes) to a fountain at the Willemspoort (city gate), where the people could buy a bucket of water for one cent. Once a water pipe system was constructed, the water pressure had to be raised so as to reach the higher floors of the houses. For that reason the local authority had a mechanical pump house built.

Gemeente Water Leiding (GWL, Council Waterworks)
Architect: Dienst der Publieke Werken (Office of Public Works)
Commissioned by: Amsterdam City Council
Years of construction: 1897-1899.

Water reservoirs

The pump house was put into operation from 1900. In the engine room there were four steam-powered pumps that drove the water into the city from the four underground reservoirs. In order to maintain a constant pressure in Amsterdams water pipe network, a steel water tower was built in 1966 on the Watertorenplein (Water Tower Square).

The former pumping station, 2007

Mini-hotel

Adjacent to the water tower is a small octagonal tower: the Windketelgebouw (Air Chamber Building). It was here that any excess pressure from the pipes used to be regulated by means of a steel tank. It contained water and air. If a pump suddenly stopped working, then a pocket of air would cushion the wave of pressure.What is unusual is that this little building from 1897 now serves as a one-room hotel, with three floors and a fully fitted interior. It is the smallest hotel in the Netherlands.

The water tower, warehouses and workshops of the pumping station, 1994

Ecowijk (Ecological District)

Nowadays the industrial buildings form part of an ecological residential area. Architect Kees Christiaanse put together the urban planning design, with focus on the environment. Thus the houses are naturally insulated by succulent plants on the roof and the toilets are flushed using collected rainwater. The first houses were completed in 1997.

Interior of the former pumping station, now Café Restaurant Amsterdam

Café Amsterdam

The former pumping station forms the heart of the district; nowadays it contains a café/restaurant. The interior is still home to an old pump and some of the control equipment.

Would you like to participate?

Cookies on Iamsterdam.com

Amsterdam Marketing uses cookies on I amsterdam to analyse usage of the website and to enable content sharing on social media. Cookies may be placed by third parties. By closing this message and continuing to use the site you consent to cookie use by iamsterdam.com.